Birds, brushes and belonging – Florida Weekly

Marie “Scappy” Scaperrotta shows DeDe Blodnick, director of celebrations at Discovery Commons, the panel that she painted. -COURTESY PHOTO

The seniors hunch over the art table, dabbing vibrant colors of paint onto a canvas with a sponge. Each resident of the assisted living facility or memory care home created a unique panel of a bird sitting on a branch. But this wasn’t an individual piece of work. After three months of working on their separate masterpieces, the canvases were put together to showcase collaborative artwork.

Minna Maillakakis teaches art at eight assisted living and memory care places in Fort Myers. While she has done lots of individual lessons in the past, this year she decided to do something different.

“I like doing the collaborative effort because even though it looks the same, every piece is unique,” Maillakakis began.

Artist Minna Maillakakis reveals the collaborative work at Discovery Commons in Fort Myers. -COURTESY PHOTO

Maillakakis got the idea when she saw a simple drawing on the internet of birds on branches.

“I thought, ‘I can do something with that’,” she explained.

So, she sketched out about 80 canvases alternating between warm color backgrounds and cold color birds and cold color backgrounds with warm color birds. Then she began by teaching a lesson on warm and cold colors.

To help the residents be successful in their work, Maillakakis outlined the birds and branches. Then she taped off her outlines and had the budding artists sponge paint the background. Later, she taped off the background so they could sponge paint the birds and branches.

“We have some residents who are vision impaired. We have some that have arthritis and can’t hold the paintbrush, so the sponge painting worked for everyone,” she explained.

After three months of painting, Maillakakis put the panels together to create the artwork that is now hanging on the walls in the lobbies or recreation rooms of these senior homes.

“I think it is wonderful,” said DeDe Blodnick, director of celebrations at Discovery Commons in Fort Myers. “We believe in art. We believe in keeping people engaged. It is all the principles of keeping people healthy. When you are doing art, it helps you physically. The hand and eye motion helps your brain. It slows down dementia. Art is very good at stimulating the brain. This is exciting. Look at it. It is beautiful.”

Blodnick was especially excited that both residents in Discovery Commons assisted living and memory care could do the project.

“Art is so important,” Maillakakis continued. “Art classes in senior care facilities help mental, emotional and social activities. It supports cognitive function and helps reduce loneliness. It helps encourage self-expression. Arts programs improve social health and engagement among older adults.”

Residents of Discovery Commons sponge paint birds as part of a collaborative painting project at assisted living and memory care places in Fort Myers. -COURTESY PHOTO

Residents of Discovery Commons sponge paint birds as part of a collaborative painting project at assisted living and memory care places in Fort Myers. -COURTESY PHOTO

When Maillakakis recently uncovered the final collaborative work at Discovery Commons during a great reveal, the residents were excited to see their work put together. They proudly pointed to the panel they created.

“It was great entertainment,” said Owen Medlock as he pointed to a brown bird on a bright blue background. “I really enjoyed it. I am kind of artsy. It is a way of expressing yourself. It is something you can share with people.”

“I am just shocked at how nice it came out,” added Marie “Scappy” Scaperrotta, who also painted a brown bird on a bright blue background. “I think it is beautiful. To think I can’t color, I can’t paint, I can’t draw, but I did this, and they all are beautiful, every single one of those beautiful birds. It was a joy to come and do this and to give us something for an hour to get our minds thinking. It is very pretty. It is made out of love.”

Peg Christian points to the panel that she created. -COURTESY PHOTO

Owen Medlock points to the panel that he painted. -COURTESY PHOTO

Maillakakis, who is an artist and former school art teacher, did the same project at Amavida, Canterfield, Healthpark Senior Living memory care, Heights Center senior program, The Opal at Lakes Park and Shell Point Retirement Community.

She said the collaborative project was so successful that she plans to offer it as a special package to other facilities even if they don’t hire her as their art teacher. She also wants to bring the idea to local communities, businesses and organizations. Maillakakis, who is the owner of icanecreateart, said the subject doesn’t have to be birds, it can be anything customers want.

“I love what I do,” Maillakakis concluded.

Residents at Discovery Commons in Fort Myers each painted a panel and then it was put together to create a collaborate piece of artwork they are calling “Branching Out.” The full piece is being hung in the assisted living facility. -COURTESY PHOTO